HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8284, 17 June 1890, Page 6

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board met yesterday. Present: Messrs. C. Atkin (chairman), P. Dignan, J. M. Lennox, A. Kidd, J. Swales, O. Mays, and J. Bollard. Tenders.—Seven tenders were received for printing, and the lowest, that of Mr. Wilkinson (£9 8s), was accepted. There were three tenders for meat, etc., and that of Messrs. Hellaby was accepted, at the following prices:—Meat, 2}d per lb for supplying the Hospital, and 24/1 per lb for the Refuges and Costley Home ; fowls, 2s ; ice, lid. Hospital and Refuges. —Dr. Collins, medical superintendent, reported that the number of patients in the Hospital was 77 men and 30 women. The late Mr. Turtle had been cared for by two nurses engaged by his friends, and this was against the rules of the institution. The report of Mr. Moss showed that there were in the Refuges 119 men and 34 women. Delirium Tremens.—A committee appointed to report as to the fitness of the two wards of the ground floor of the Hospital for cases of delirium tremens, suggested that the rooms be padded, and the floor covered with linoleum. Some members considered that such cases should bo removed away from the Hospital, and it was suggested that a part of the Refuge buildings be set apart for them when the present inmates left. The consideration of the matter was deferred for a fortnight. The Nursing Staff.—Miss Phillips applied for a position as charge nurse. The appointment, which was recommended by Dr. Collins and Miss Windred, was agreed to by the Board. Miss H. Margetts applied for the position vacated by Nurse Baker, recently promoted. It was decided to reply that the appointment was already made, but that the Board would keep the application in view. House Committee. The House Committee reported the acceptance of the following tenders : —Drugs, Sharland and Co. ; groceries, R. Rew; crockery, J. Wilson. Arrangements had been made for the painting of 150 iron bedsteads for the Costiey Home at 2s 6d each. The wages of the Refuge laundress had been raised to 15s per week. The committee also recommended that the Chairman of the Board and Messrs. Dignan, Kidd, Lennox, and Swales be appointed a sub-committee to arrange for the removal of the Refuge patients to the Costiey Home. The report was adopted. Hospital Fees.—The North Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board asked that patients coming from their district

should be refused admission to the Hospital unless they were provided with authority from that Board. They wished to have some cheek upon their expenditure in Hospital fees. It was agreed to suggest that the people of the North Auckland district build a hospital for their own patients. The Board recently consented to reduce the Hospital fees for patients son* by the Bay of Plenty Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, to 2s (id per day from the 31st May, stipulating that the amount in arrears at that date be paid in full. The Bay of Plenty Board now asked that the reduction should be made on the whole amount, and not simply from the 31st May, and they offered on that condition to send at once a cheque for £87 10s od. It was resolved to reply adhering to the former decision. Tho Coromandel Hospital Board wrote asking for a reduction of the Hospital foes to the same amount as paid by tho Thames, 2s 6d per day. They were maintaining two hospitals at a cost of from £1200 to £1500 per annum. Tho consideration of tho application was deferred. Costley Homk.—The Charitable Aid Committee asked the Board to consider the question of admissions to the Costley Home— of aged and infirm persons who have a little money, which would bo handed over to the Board, but no home or relatives; second, ot persons having a little money, but no relatives in a position to support them ; third, of persons who have relatives able to maintain them. It was decided that the persons mentioned in the first and second clauses should be admitted, but that such cases as are mentioned in the third clause be not accepted. The Chairman moved, "That the 153 inmates of the Refuge be supplied with new bedding complete, by tender, on their removal to the Costley Home." The motion was agreed to, and it was further decided that 50 new mattresses should be obtained for tho bedridden patients. Mr. Kidd thought that better provision for cooking should be made at the new homo than existed now at the Refuge. Ho moved, " That a committee appointed to arrange for the removal of the patients be empowered to obtain the services of a cook, at £75 per year." Messrs. Dignan and Swales opposed the motion. The consideration of the motion was deferred. Applications were received from the authorities of various religious bodies for permission to hold services at tho Costley Home. It was decided to invito the applicants to meot the chairman and Mr. Garland. Forty applications were received for the position of gardener at the Costloy Home. They were referred to a committee consisting of tho chairman and Messrs. Udy and Bollard, to make an appointment on Thursday afternoon. Prison Gate Brigade Home.—SergeantMajor Turton informed the Board that he intended to apply to the Government during the session for a grant of land for a more suitable and commodious home, or for pecuniary assistance in buying a site ; and lie asked for a testimonial from the Board a* to the amount of good done by the Home. It was resolved to recommend the application to the favourable consideration of the Government. Mr. Kidd suggested that the members of the Board should visit the Home. The authorities of the institution were relieving the local rates to a great extent.

Error in Valuation.—The Mount Roskill Road Board wrote, pointing out that there was an error in the valuation list for their district, and that the amount on which they should be rated was £118,000, instead of £220,000. There was in the Government valuation list a c'srical error of £100,000 in one property —the Pah Farm — which, by this error, was overrated to that amount, Mr. Bollard supported this statement. As the Board had no power to alter the valuation, it was resolved to send a copy of the lotter to Wellington. Mr. Garland said the error meant a loss of £40 a-year in rates, and another £40 in subsidy. Mr. Dignan pointed out that tl>e amount lost through the error would have to be made up by an increase in the contributions from the other bodies.